PRODUCTS
INTERVENTIONS
Focus on Youth with Informed Parents and Children Together (FOY+ImPACT) is an 8-session universal, group-level CDC-endorsed evidence-based intervention that prevents multiple risk behaviors among urban, Black adolescents, primarily focused on preventing sexual risk behaviors. Developed in Baltimore, MD during the 1990s, it is a community-based intervention that is comprehensive and actively engages caregivers and youth 14 to 16 years old. B Lab is currently adapting and updating the intervention based on the needs of youth affected by parental drug use.
Better Together is an 8-session intervention designed to prevent early substance use among Black youth 11 to 13 years old affected by parental drug use. The BT intervention uses the BEST (Breathe deep, Educate yourself, Explore your options, Select an option that is best for you, Take action) decision-making strategy to increase safety and connectedness across multiple levels for youth. B Lab designed this intervention based on findings from original qualitative work and in partnership with young adults affected by parental drug use.
PUBLICATIONS
Powell, T.W., Smith, B.D., Moser, N., Kachingwe, O., Lewis, Q., Offiong, A., Hwang, A., Davie, E., & LoVette, A. (2026). Adapting a sexual health intervention for adolescents: A feasibility study. JMIR Formative Research, 10, e72782.
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Powell, T.W., Smith, B.D., Holmes Spencer, B., Adane, N. & Stovall, A. (2025). Suicidality among Black adolescents exposed to adversity: A descriptive analysis. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma. Advanced online publication. DOI: 10.1007/s40653-025-00745-7
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Holmes Spencer, B., Powell, T.W., Adane, N., Hwang, A., Davie, E., Phoenix, T., & Smith, B.D. (2025). Acceptability and improvement of a library-based substance use prevention intervention. Journal of Community Psychology, 53(6), e70035.
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Smith, B.D., Holmes Spencer, B., Nur-Singletary, Z., Adane, N., Moser, N., & Powell, T.W. (2024). Assessing the relationship between safety perceptions and communication about sex and drugs among Black adolescents exposed to adversity. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 37(4), 662-671.
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Powell, T.W., Offiong, A.*, Lewis, Q.*, Smith, B.*, Prioleau, M., Johnson, R.M. (2023). “I’ve smoked weed with my daughter”: Cannabis Use within Families Affected by Parental Opioid Misuse. Children and Youth Services Review. Advanced online publication. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107235.
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Kachingwe, O.N.*, Lewis, Q.*, Offiong, A.*, Smith, B.D.*, LoVette, A.*, Powell, T.W. (2023). Using the intervention mapping-adapt framework to adapt an evidence-based sexual health intervention for youth affected by trauma. BMC Public Health, 23, 1052.
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Offiong, A., Willis, K., Smith, B., Lewis, Q., Portee-Mason, D., Glover, D., Burton, M., & Powell, T.W. (2022). Maintaining community-engaged research with young people in a virtual setting. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action. Advance online publication.
https://preprint.press.jhu.edu/pchp/sites/default/files/PCHP-WIP_Offiong.pdf
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Powell, T.W., Smith, B.D., Offiong, A., Lewis, Q. Kachingwe, O., LoVette, A., & Hwang, A. (2022). Public Librarians: Partners in Adolescent Health Promotion. Public Library Quarterly. Advance online publication.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2022.2107349
Lewis, Q, Smith, B., Offiong, A., Prioleau, M., & Powell, T.W. (2021). When a house is never a home: Housing instability among youth affected by parental drug use. Child Abuse & Neglect,118, 105131.
Smith, B., Powell, T.W., Offiong, A., Lewis, Q., Prioleau, M. (2022). “It’s on every corner”: Assessing risk environments in Baltimore, MD using a racialized risk environment model. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2022.2068719
Harmon, B.E., San Diego, E.R., Pichon, L.C., Powell, T.W., Calvin, V., McCann, L., Smith, J.B., … Calvin, V. (2021). Developing a Congregational Health Needs Assessment: Lessons Learned from Using a Participatory Research Approach. Progress in Community Health Partnerships. Research, Education & Action, 15(1), 47-58.
Powell, T.W., Willis, K., Smith, B., Lewis, Q., & Offiong, A. (2021) “Don’t close the door on them”: Recruiting and retaining vulnerable Black adolescents in prevention research. Journal of Community Psychology. Advance online publication. http://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22584
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Powell, T.W., West, K., Turner, C.E. (2020). Size matters: Addressing social determinants of health through Black churches. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(1), 237–244.
Powell, T.W., Jo, M., Smith, A., Marshall, B., Thigpen, S., Offiong, A., & Geffen, S. (2020). Supplementing substance use prevention with sexual health education: A partner informed approach. Health Promotion Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1524839920947683
Offiong, A., Lewis, Q., Powell, T.W. (2020). Making Success Tangible: Reengaging Female Opportunity Youth in Baltimore, MD. Perspectives in Public Health, 140, 187-189.
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Offiong, A, Powell, T.W., Lewis, Q, Smith, B., Prioleau, M. (2020). “I missed open arms”: The Need for Connectedness among Black Youth Affected by Parental Drug Use. Children & Youth Services Review, 114, 105072.
Powell, T.W., Wallace, M., Zelaya, C., Davey-Rothwell, M., & Latkin, C.A. (2018). Social Stability and household residency among vulnerable families in Baltimore. Children & Youth Services Review, 93, 226-230.
Powell, T.W., Weeks, F., Illangasekare, S.L., Rice, E., Wilson, J., Hickman, D., Blum, W.R. (2017). Facilitators and barriers to implementing church-based adolescent sexual health programs in Baltimore City. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60(2), 169-175.
Weeks, F, Powell, T.W., Illangasekare, S.L., Rice, E., Wilson, J., Hickman, D., & Blum, W.R. (2016) Bringing sexual health education to adolescents in Black Churches: Applying knowledge from systematic adaptation frameworks. Health Education and Behavior, 43(6), 699-704.
Powell, T.W., Herbert, A., Ritchwood, T., & Latkin, C.A. (2016). “Let me help you help me”: HIV prevention in churches for young adult Black men who have sex with men. AIDS Education and Behavior, 28(3), 202-215.
PRESENTATIONS
Holmes Spencer, B., Sanchez, C., Holmes, T., Smith, B.D., and Powell, T.W. (2025, May). Partnering to Develop Culturally Relevant Videos to Prevent Substance Use. Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research. Seattle, WA.
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Holmes Spencer, B., Powell, T.W., Smith-Black, B., Hwang, A., Davie, E., Phoenix, T.M., Adane, N. (2025, March). Acceptability and Improvement of a Library-based Substance Use Prevention Intervention. Poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.
Holmes Spencer, B., Smith, B.D., Adane, N. & Powell, T.W. (2024, October). Double Dose: Exposure to substances in digital environments among adolescents exposed to ACEs. Oral presentation at the 152nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Minneapolis, MN.
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Smith, B., Holmes Spencer, B., Adane, N., Moser, N., Nur-Singletary, Z. & Powell, T.W. (2024, April). Examining the relationship between safety perceptions and communication with trusted adults about sex and drug use. Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Chicago, IL.
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Powell, T.W., Smith, B., Kachingwe, O., Moser, N., Lewis, Q., Adane, N., Holmes Spencer, B., & Neumyer, S. (2023, November). Initial efficacy of a sexual health intervention adapted for vulnerable youth. Oral presentation at the 151st Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Atlanta, GA.
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Kachingwe, O.N., Lewis, Q., Smith, B.D., LoVette, A., Offiong, A., & Powell, T.W. (2023, April). Adaptation of an evidence-based sexual health program for youth with a history of household challenges. Oral presentation at the 2023 Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial Meeting. San Diego, CA.
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Powell, T.W., Phoenix, T., Hwang, A., Davie, E. (2022, October). Partnering With Participants to Develop Substance Use Prevention Interventions for Adolescents Who Experience Household Challenges. Oral Presentation at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CACAP) Annual Meeting. Toronto, Ontario.
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Powell, T.W., Hwang, A.L., Kachingwe, O., Lewis, Q., LoVette, A., Offiong, A., Smith, B.D. (2022, May). Assessing the Acceptability of a Library-based Substance Use Prevention Intervention. Oral presentation at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research. Seattle, WA.
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Powell, T.W., Willis, K., Offiong, A., Lewis, Q., Smith, B., Portee-Mason, D., Glover, D., Burton, M. (2022, March). From Participants to Partners: Engaging Young People in Intervention Development. Oral Presentation at the 2022 Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
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Powell TW, Offiong A, & Glover D. (2021, June). We are Better Together: Partnering with youth affected by parental drug use to meet their needs. Justice Research and Statistics Association, Center for Victims Research. Washington DC.
Powell, T. W. (2020, December). What Works for Reaching Young People: The STAR Approach to Program Recruitment and Retention. Public Health Management Corporation. Philadelphia, PA
Prioleau, M., Powell, T.W., Offiong, A., Lewis, Q., & Smith, B. (2020, November). “My son got killed… I wanted to die”: Exploring Excessive Death and Mental Health among Families Affected by Opioid Use. Oral presentation at the 148th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. San Diego, CA. [virtual]
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Powell, T.W. (2020, October). When Theory Meets Planning and Practice: The Development of an Intervention for Youth Affected by Parental Drug Use. Up2Us Sports Lunch and Learn Series. [virtual]
Smith, B., Powell, T.W., Offiong, A., Lewis, Q., Prioleau, M. (2020, July). The World as We See It: A Qualitative Study Examining Social Environments and Drug Use. Poster presentation at the Society for Prevention Research Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C. [virtual]
Lewis, Q., Powell, T.W., Offiong, A., Smith, B., Prioleau, M. (2020, March). When A House is Never A Home: Housing Instability among Youth Affected by Parental Drug Abuse. Poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.
Offiong, A., Powell, T.W., Lewis, Q., Smith, B., Prioleau, M. (2020, March). “I needed somewhere to turn to”: Understanding and addressing the needs of African American youth affected by parental drug use. Poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.
Powell, T.W., Offiong, A., Lewis, Q., Prioleau, M., Johnson, R. (2019, November). “I’ve smoked weed with my daughters”: Intergenerational marijuana use among families affected by opioid abuse. Oral presentation at the 147th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Philadelphia, PA.
Powell, T.W., Turner, C.E., West, K. (2018, November). Addressing Social Determinants of Health through Black Churches. Oral presentation at the 146th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. San Diego, CA.
Powell, T.W., Jo, M. Marshall, B., Smith, A. & Geffen, S. (2018, November). Supplementing substance use prevention with sexual health education: A partner informed approach. Oral presentation at the 147th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Philadelphia, PA.
Powell, T.W., Turner, C., Sharff, M., David-Rivera, V., Watson, C., Marshall, B. (2018, November). “We learn about sex after we get pregnant”: Adolescent perspectives of sexual health education in Baltimore, MD. Oral presentation at the 146th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. San Diego, CA.
Powell, T.W., Jo, M., Owens, J., Smith, A., Marshall, B., Offiong, A., Leaf, P. (2018, November). A multi-informant qualitative analysis of implementing an evidence-based intervention in Baltimore City Public Schools. Oral presentation at the 146th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. San Diego, CA.
Hodges, D., Turner, C. E. & Powell, T.W. (2017, November). A Balm in Baltimore: Black Churches Addressing Congregant and Community Health Needs. Roundtable presentation at the 145th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Atlanta, GA.
Powell, T.W., Marinez, V., Latimore, A., Marshall, B, & Tandon, D. (2016, April). The Influence of Parental Relationships on Dating Violence among African American Young Adults. Poster presented at the 2016 Society for Research on Adolescents Biennial Meeting. Baltimore, MD.
Williams, T.T., Rimelspach, M.J., Martin, C., Philip, W., Astone, N. (2014, November). Inner-city young adults in a workforce development program. Paper presented at the 142nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. New Orleans, LA.
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Williams, T.T., Illangasekare, S.L., Rice, E., Wilson, J., Hickman, D., Blum, W.R. (2014, November). The Barriers to and Facilitators of Addressing Adolescent Sexual Health in Churches. Poster presented at the 142nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. New Orleans, LA.
Williams, T.T., St.Clair, S.C., Martin, C., Sterling, A., Phillip, W., & Astone, N. (2013, November). Realizing It Can Happen: Responding to Social Determinants of Health through Job Training. Paper presented at the 141st Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Boston, MA.